Media Release

A 47-year-old man was killed Tuesday (November 22) from injuries he sustained in a one-vehicle crash on Hawaiʻi Belt Road (Route 11) at the 93-mile marker in South Kona.

Responding to a 10:50 p.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that the driver was operating a 1995 Mazda two-door sedan and traveling south on Route 11 when he lost control and ran off the right side of the road and overturned about a 30 feet below the highway.

The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved but speed may have been a factor in this crash.

The driver was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:26 a.m.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The name of the man is being held pending positive identification and notification of the next of kin.

This is the 20th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 24 at this time last year.